Article

2011-01-18 Afghanistan

90% Insurgents Havens in ~~Quang Tri~~ North Wiped Out

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Posted by Fred 2011-01-18 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11133 views ] Top
File under: Taliban

#1 There are a few isolated pockets in Dong Ha, at the Rock Pile and along the Qua Viet River.

Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2011-01-18 01:32|| 2011-01-18 01:32|| Front Page Top

#2 Fred, GB USMC: That parallel makes me itch. Unless it becomes unavoidable, please use it sparingly.

Posted by Anonymoose 2011-01-18 09:54|| 2011-01-18 09:54|| Front Page Top

#3 I was going to use an insect-infestation metaphor, myself. If you only kill 90% of an infestation with an insecticide application, you're much more likely to see a resurgence after a couple breeding cycles, and with a heightened likelihood of having desensitized the population to whatever pesticide you're using.

Posted by Mitch H. 2011-01-18 10:08|| http://blogfonte.blogspot.com/ 2011-01-18 10:08|| Front Page Top

#4 IIRC the north are not Pashtun. These are more Uzbeks. Sorta more like the Hmong in SEA, being a distinct ethnic group which in this case does not by default align itself with the Pashtun or Kabul. It's one of the reasons the AQ and the Taliban have operational problems in the area. There is no love lost between them.

Posted by Procopius2k 2011-01-18 10:40|| 2011-01-18 10:40|| Front Page Top

#5 Choose your pesticide, Mitch: Agent Orange or napalm.

Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2011-01-18 12:04|| 2011-01-18 12:04|| Front Page Top

#6 There has been no documented case of resistance to lead poisoning. Often the simple solution is the best solution.

Posted by George Hupaviger4591 2011-01-18 12:13|| 2011-01-18 12:13|| Front Page Top

#7 IIRC the north are not Pashtun.

Kunduz is 1/3 Pashtun and was where the Taliban retreated and the last battle was fought in 2001.

Posted by George Hupaviger4591 2011-01-18 12:30|| 2011-01-18 12:30|| Front Page Top

#8 George H - Even the co-application of copper with the lead pesticide does not degrade the effectiveness too badly.

Posted by Glenmore 2011-01-18 13:21|| 2011-01-18 13:21|| Front Page Top

#9 I was thinking of the pesticide as more of a metaphor for tactics, not a literal chemical weapon application... anyways, if you're using Agent Orange in Afghanistan, you're doing it wrong. There's no triple-canopy rain forest to defoliate.

Unless you're planning on destroying the Helmand opium crop, in which case I recommend Round-Up, and a spring application. Then forting up everywhere, because the whole countryside's probably going to go full-Zulu on you for destroying their livelihood.

Posted by Mitch H. 2011-01-18 15:25|| http://blogfonte.blogspot.com/ 2011-01-18 15:25|| Front Page Top

#10 They might go full Zulu but then they'd get hungry and they'd have a hard time buying bullets without the opium money. Besides, I'm tired of all this hearts and minds bullcrap. We invaded their country because they attacked us. Treat them like the conquered barbarians they are.

Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2011-01-18 18:37|| 2011-01-18 18:37|| Front Page Top

#11 Having spread insects with nerve agents, I can assure that there is no desensitivation.

Maybe Saddam had something there...

Dont cry for the Kurds, they're the ones who cleared
Anatolia of the Greeks and Armenians for the Turks!

Posted by hotspur666 2011-01-18 23:13|| 2011-01-18 23:13|| Front Page Top

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